Piano-action bracket.



PATENTED JULY 11, 1905.

' J. DAVENPORT. PIANO ACTION BRACKET.

APPLICATION TILED DEC 29 1904 2 SHEBTS -SHEET 1.

Jmmwtoz m llavenpoft" No. 794,665. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905. J. DAVENPORT.

PIANO ACTION BRACKET.

APPLIOATION FILED mo. 29, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

h n ,Dcurenioort mym 'UNI'TED STATES Patented July 11, 1905.

JOHN DAVENPORT, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTlOUT.

PIANO-ACTION BRACKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,665, dated July 11, 1905.

- Application filed December 29, 1904. Serial F0. 238,762.

To all 1071 0771, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN DAVENPORT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano Action Brackets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in piano-action brackets, such as are contained within an upright piano to support the hammer-operating mechanism. Four of these brackets are usually employed in an upright piano and are attached in part to the wrest-plank or pin-block. They are arranged in line with each other and directly support transverse rails,which in turn have operativel y connected thereto the various parts of the hammer mechanism. These brackets have heretofore been made entirely from cast metal and in various designsto meet the fancies of different action makers. These cast brackets are unnecessarily heavy, besides being very liable to break during the process of manufacture or in shipment or after the action has been placed .on them, and are also subject to other criticism and objection.

It is therefore the object of my invention to produce an improved form of bracket for upright-piano actions which shall first be light, strong, and durable; second, adapted to be manufactured cheaply and in any of the various designs required by different action makers; further, to design it in a manner to permit of its manufacture from sheet-steel stamped out and reinforced by additional Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show a side, a rear edge, and front edge view of a slightly-difierent design of action-bracket constructed in accordance with my invention.

As before stated, the bracket is made largely of sheet-steel, being preferably stamped out in the desired form by a suitable press and designed more particularly for use intermediate of the length of the action, carrying dies of the proper character. These dies may also include the necessary punches to produce the several screw and rivet holes required in each bracket, thus saving the cost of drilling.

Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon the drawings, A indicates the body of the bracket as a whole, which, as seen, is of uniform thickness and having suitable cut-away portions B to lighten it. The

brackets are also provided with suitable means for their attachment to the wrest-plank or pinblock, as well as to the key-bed, and also for the attachment thereto of the several rails carried by the brackets and is further provided with a rest for the movable hammer rail.

These brackets are attached in position through a connection with each end. The upper connection is usually made to the=wrestplank or pin-block of the piano through a bolt similar to that designated by C in Fig. l and shown in engagement with the socket D. In my preferred method of manufacture this boltsocket is formed by cutting out an extension of the proper shape and proportions integral with the body of the bracket and then twistingsuch extension to dispose the same at a right angle, as shown in the first three figures ofthedrawings. Thelowerendof thebracket may contain a V-shaped notch E therein, as shown in Fig. 1, and the upper portion of said bracket may also contain a screw-hole V, which notch and hole are stamped out when forming the body and to form means for the engagement of screws for the support of the action.

Suitable reinforcing-plates F and anglepieces G are secured to the sides of the bracket at the proper places to allow for the attachment to the bracket of the rails H, I, and J, all of which serve as supports for the various parts of the piano-action-such, for instance,

as hammers, &c. The uppermost one of these rails is usually attached to each bracket by a single screw. Consequently I prefer to puta hole K through the body of the bracket and rivet on either side thereof a plate F, as shown, to strengthen the same. Connections for the intermediate action-rail may be made in somewhat the same manner as seen in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, wherein somewhat longer plates F are employed and two holesL are used, or I may use the angle-irons Gr, (shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive,) which are riveted to the sides of the body and in turn provided with screwholes for attachment of the rail. The connection for the lower rail is also preferal'ily made through the use of angle-pieces G, riveted to the sides of the body and in turn provided with screw-holes for its attachment to the rail or by a screw-hole through the body of the bracket, reinforced as shown at F and K.

The hammer-rail M is a movable part of the action and must be provided with a rest, so to speak. This I may provide by forming a circular opening through the body of the bracket, as seen in Fig. 1, and placing the hammer-rail therethrough in a way to rest against the outer part 0, as seen, or I can form an extension P with a rest at a right angle, as seen in Figs. 41- and 6.

The bracket shown in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, contains attached piece R with a bolt-socket S therein, which form of socket is more desirable for theii'itermediate brackets of an action, while the form of bracket shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, is better adapted for use on the end of the action. It will also be apparent that an extension R, similar to that shown in Sheet 2, can be used intermediate of the legs T and in lieu of the socket E of the bracket shown in Sheet 1.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent, is-

1. A piano-action bracket formed of sheet metal and comprising a Hat body portion of substantially uniform thickness, and sheetmetal plates and angles riveted to said body and having holes for the attachment of screws.

2. A piano-action bracket formed of sheet metal and comprising a flat body portion including an extension forming a hammer-rail rest, and plates and angle-pieces riveted to the sides of said body portion for the connection of rails.

3. A piano-action bracket formed of sheet metal and comprising a flat body portion having means at either end for its attachment, and plates and angle-pieces on either side and screw-holes for the attachment of rails.

4. A piano-action bracket formed of sheet metal and comprising a body portion having a twisted extension forming a bolt-socket on one end, and an attaching-socket on its other end, plates and angles attached to the sides of the body having means for the attachment of rails thereto.

5. A piano-action bracket, comprising a flat body-plate stamped out of sheet metal having a hammer-rail rest, an attached extension at the lower end forming a bolt-socket, and attached sheet-metal pieces having screw-holes for the attachment of rails.

6. A pianoaction bracket comprising a sheet-metal body-plate having a hammer-rail rest, and a transverse screw-hole through said plate, reinfm'cingpieces riveted on either side of the plate adjacent to the transverse hole, and bolt-sockets on either end of said plate.

7. A piano-action bracket comprising a flat sheet-metal body portion having a hammerrail rest, a bolt-socket formed in an extension of the plate, the metal of said extended socket portion being bent at a right angle to the main body, and means for the attachment of rails as described.

Signed at Stamford, in the county of Fairiield and State of Connecticut, this 15th day of December, A. .D. 1904.

\Vitnesses:

C. M. NEWMAN, WV. V. Dnvrr'r. 

